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"The purpose of the instrument is to undertake a biannual update of the foreign currency exchange rates"

From 1 July 2020, credit card surcharges relating to visa and citizenship applications will be increased, as detailed in this update. It is important to know the precise amount of charges and fees to be paid by clients in order to comply with cl 2.20(a) of the Code, which reads as follows: A registered migration agent must ... find out the correct amount of any visa application charge and all other fees or charges required to be paid for a client’s visa application...

The purpose of the new instrument commencing on 26 May 2020 concerning bridging visas is to amend a drafting error in the repealed instrument

A Bill introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives on 14 May 2020 would "amend the Migration Act 1958 (Migration Act) to allow the Minister to determine that a thing is a prohibited thing in relation to immigration detention facilities and detainees (whether or not they are in an immigration detention facility). These things may include controlled drugs (as defined in the Criminal Code Act 1995) and prescription drugs not taken by the person to whom they are prescribed, mobile phones, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM cards), and internet-capable devices".

"The purpose of the instrument is to provide a pathway for certain former and current holders of temporary visas to lawfully remain in Australia and who would otherwise be required to depart Australia who, but for the COVID-19 pandemic, are unable to leave Australia. The instrument limits the class of persons who can be granted the visa to those who hold a visa that is 28 days or less from ceasing to be in effect, or held a visa that is no more than 28 days from ceasing to be in effect. It further limits the class of persons to those who are unable to apply for the same temporary visa they hold or held or any other subclass of temporary visa other than the Subclass 408 visa".

"I will also say a very clear message to those backpackers who may not be adhering to the social distancing rules... [Y]ou will be breaching your visa condition and if we find that out, we will be kicking you out of the country". We discuss whether non-compliance with social distancing rules can in fact lead to a breach of a visa condition and ultimately the cancellation of a working holiday, work and holiday or other visas.

The purpose of the instrument is to update the specified place and manner for making an application for the following visas subclasses: 101 (child), 102 (adoption), 117 (orphan relative), 802 (child), 837 (orphan relative) and 445 (dependent child).

"The purpose of the instrument is to update the information previously contained in [the instrument to be repealed on 31 March 2020] to ensure all officers, agencies and their employees who require access to movement records for various purposes are authorised to do so. Accordingly, changes have been made to the legislation specified under subregulation 3.10A(1) and the agencies, employees and purposes specified under subregulation 3.10A(2)".

It is sometimes said by applicants that a person who remains in Australia after their student visa expires has a 28-day "grace period" during which they remain lawful non-citizens. We explain why that is not the case.

"Schedule 1 makes routine amendments to the Citizenship Regulation to incorporate instruments made under the Migration Regulations updating the places and currencies in which citizenship application fees may be paid and the relevant exchange rates. Schedule 2 amends the Migration Regulations to allow the Minister responsible for skills assessment services to delegate the power to approve persons and bodies to be relevant assessing authorities, for the purposes of assessing the occupational skills of applicants for skilled visas. Schedule 3 amends the Migration Regulations to make a minor technical amendment".